Employee Relations Specialist

Employee Relations (ER) Specialist – Contract (6 Months)

Location: Multiple UK offices (minimum 3 days on-site)

Duration: 6 Months

Clearance: BPSS required

IR35 Status: Inside IR35

Start: ASAP

We are seeking an experienced Employee Relations (ER) Specialist to join our Employee Services team on a 6-month contract. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident and capable ER professional who can hit the ground running and operate with a high degree of autonomy in a fast-paced environment.

The Role

The Employee Relations Specialist will provide expert guidance on complex employee relations matters, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes across the business.

You’ll act as a trusted advisor to managers and HR colleagues, delivering pragmatic solutions that balance business needs with employee wellbeing. This role offers a dynamic and varied workload, covering all aspects of ER case management within a complex organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide timely, expert ER advice to managers on complex casework
• Manage ER cases end-to-end, including: Investigations, disciplinary processes, grievances, performance management
• Coach and upskill managers to enhance ER capability across the organisation
• Collaborate with People Partners, HR Advisors, and the in-house Legal team
• Identify trends and deliver training sessions to address capability gaps
• Maintain accurate and compliant case documentation
• Ensure prompt responses to casework enquiries (typically within 24 hours)
• Review and recommend improvements to ER policies, toolkits, and guidance materials

Key Skills & Capabilities

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess multiple perspectives
• Confident handling of challenging and sensitive conversations
• Excellent problem-solving, negotiation, and influencing skills
• Ability to quickly build relationships with managers, employee representatives, and Trade Unions
• Strong understanding of ER risk and legal frameworks
• Exceptional communication skills (verbal and written)
• High attention to detail and strong organisational skills
• Ability to prioritise effectively and work under pressure
• Collaborative mindset with a focus on continuous improvement

Experience & Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 (minimum) or equivalent experience
• Proven experience managing high volumes of complex ER casework at pace
• Experience coaching and developing managers and mentoring junior team members
• Background in complex organisations or technical environments
• Experience supporting return-to-office or on-site working initiatives (desirable)